Bowling for Columbine
From WhyNotWiki
http://rudetube.com/movie_select.php?choice=671.
In a Nutshell: This film (a documentary, really…) is broken into several segments, all with a common theme: ‘The Gun is Evil’ ((aside: Did anyone pick up on that altered Zardoz reference besides Mr. Blue?...)). He analyzes how easy it was for the Columbine high school students to secure guns and ammo, then goes out of his way (by involving some of the teenage shooting victims) to harass and humiliate K-mart employees into agreeing to limit public access to the goods they’re trying to sell. In another segment, he compares U.S. gun-related violence to that of other ‘civilized’ countries. ((aside: Statistics can support any position if they’re presented right…)) He even tries to show how relatively ‘safe’ Canada is by walking around Toronto opening the unlocked front doors of houses ((aside: What he won’t show you are the MILES of footage of him trying to open all of the locked doors. Hey, Michael…MOST people lock their doors. The ones who don’t just aren’t all that smart…)). He drives this point home with a video montage of violent imagery, mostly involving guns (of course), meant to reinforce the fact that we are a culture of nasty, thoughtless gun-nuts. [...]
By far the worst part of this film (in terms of making me feel sorry for someone) was when he tries to interview Charlton Heston, figurehead president of the National Rifle Association. Moore sets up in Heston’s home to do the interview, and starts off by showing the old man his NRA membership card (which, of course, Heston is happy to see…). Moore then proceeds to mercilessly persecute and badger Heston for what the NRA stands for; with no way to defend himself, Heston gets up and leaves, Moore calling after him with questions about innocent people gunned down in some tragedy that Heston has obviously never heard about.
Overall, there was one part of the documentary that I didn’t find annoying: A short animated segment called “A Brief History of America”, by the creators of South Park ((aside: The voices and animation style are easily recognizable to any fan of the show…)), was both funny and intelligent. Too bad this 3:18 clip had all of the other heavy-handed shit surrounding it…Bowling for Columbine won almost every award imaginable, including the 2002 Oscar for ‘Best Documentary’. Evidently, a lot of people were willing to overlook a whole lot more about this film than I was…
[...] but by no means do I wear the same crotchless panties that Liberals like Michael Moore has on. I’m more likely to be found defending the Constitution, not hiding behind it…And I sure [...] wouldn’t be carrying around an NRA membership card if I had a problem with guns, Mr. Moore. ((aside: Yes, I realize you joined the NRA as a stunt to promote your chances with this film, but I have to question the integrity of someone who would send money to an organization which he has fundamental ethical problems with…or is your anti-gun position a scam as well?...))
Judge & Jury: For someone who is so judgmental of others, Moore is not at all without his own faults [...]. I have to admit that I like a lot of his other work, but this film props him up as the absolute ‘poster boy’ for that tribe of gutless, wussy assholes who revel in presenting an extremely slanted view of reality while editing out any chance of a counter-argument ((aside: But this IS a bipartisan phenomenon, folks…For years Rush Limbaugh has clogged the airwaves by hosting an hours-long daily talk show which never has any actual guests.)). Before seeing this film, I really didn’t have an opinion of Moore or his style. After seeing him vilify Charlton Heston IN HIS OWN HOME, I feel nothing but pity…for poor old Heston. ((aside: Hey, have some respect, asshole…even if you don’t agree with what his organization stands for, you at least know that he’s just a spokesman, right? [Though I admit, for you he was an easy target…] That’s like attacking Tiger Woods for all of the people who die when they crash their Buicks.)) If you really had the balls to back your convictions, you would have gone to do the interview at the actual offices of the NRA. I do know one thing for certain, though…If you had done the same interview with Ted Nugent, the paramedics would have been taking you out of HIS house in a bag.
